JDH returns Poulton to Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD], [presumably a copy of Edward Bagnall Poulton's book CHARLES DARWIN AND THE THEORY OF NATURAL SELECTION]. JDH comments that Poulton makes too much of [Thomas Henry] Huxley & that Newton wishes to belittle both. JDH says he has written to F[rancis] Darwin on the matter. JDH talks about how he is unable to grasp the notion of Pangenesis & he & Darwin disagreed on it. Comments that WTTD's judgement of [Brian Houghton] Hodgson is just. He is a different person from the one JDH knew in Darjeeling. Comments on rumours, perpetuated by Yule & [Sir William Wilson] Hunter, of an alleged alliance with a Kathmandu woman, likely to have been a girl he bought at the market. JDH sees it as an unwise, chivalrous act for Hodgson to have brought her to live in his house at Darjeeling, which Hodgson may now regret. Describes how [Archibald] Campbell felt the dishonour of his 'old chief', Hodgson. Hunter did not include [in his biography THE LIFE OF BRIAN HOUGHTON HODGSON] all JDH said of his obligations to Hodgson. Mrs Hodgson assumed wrongly thought he JDH was one of her husband's paid collectors in India. JDH encloses duplicates of a Medallion [probably Wedgewood with a portrait of Hodgson] & a copy of one of [Sir Joseph] Banks's for Australia. He says that he has sent all to [Ferdinand von] Mueller.

JDH says that he will investigate the Cypripedia when he is next at Kew. He reports that the Indian Orchideae [in FLORA OF BRITISH INDIA?] need thorough revision. He says that he had not heard of the discovery of Antherozoids in Cycas or Salisburia. Declares that [Sir Robert Falcon] Scott's research interests him. Mentions that he does not credit [Thomas] Hanbury's right to the title of Marquis any more than [Ferdinand von] Mueller's to a Baronial title. JDH is currently re-reading Boswell's Johnson: A SONG OF DEGREES, also mentions a book on Japan by an American author that he says has given him a clearer idea of ancestor worship & the oriental mind-set. Professor Morris of Melbourne wrote to compliment JDH on the publication of Joseph Banks' journal. JDH says that he looked for Myersii in Part 1 of the Kew arboretum until [George] Nicholson advised that it was in the Temperate House, however it should be hardy in the Bamboo Garden. JDH is glad that the Temperate House is to be completed, it will be a credit to Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD]. Hopes that WTTD got sufficient help during his recent illness and wonders if he would be able to travel to the Canary Islands or Madeira.

JDH informs Sir William Thiselton-Dyer of his thoughts on what he believes would be a spurious division of Cypripedia based on the character of coriaceous leaves in some Indian Cypripedia as opposed to membranous leaved species. This is a difficult distinction to make, & further if it was applied as a generic characteristic more widely, many other genera of Orchideae would be split. JDH points out that that a distinction could be made between the evergreen varieties within oaks & beeches but this has never been properly adopted. JDH wonders whether the name [for the Indian Cypripedia?] had even ben published when he was working on orchids; between 1882 & 1886. JDH is keen to know more about the antherozoids in Cycas & Thuja. References to various publications have been added to the end of the letter in a hand not that of JDH but appearing contemporary to the letter: PAPHIOPEDILUM by [Ernst Hugo Heinrich] Pfitzer, MORPHOLOGISCHE STUDIEN UBER DIE ORCHIDEENBLUTE, and BOTANISCHE JAHRBUCHER FUR SYSTEMATIK, PFLANZENGESCHICHTE UND PLANZENGEOGRAPHIE XIX.

JDH writes that he is enclosing a letter from George King [not present] for Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] to read. He thanks WTTD for a copy of his portrait taken by Elliot & Fry, & advises that a three quarters pose would have been more flattering than full face. JDH is working on the BOTANICAL MAGAZINE, getting ahead in hope of being employed on the HANDBOOK TO THE FLORA OF CEYLON [Sri Lanka] continuing the work of George Henry Kendrick Thwaites & Henry Trimen. JDH's 'unlucky [Joseph] Banks Journal' is not selling well, though it has had a good reception & done something to raise Bank's reputation in posterity. Sir Samuel Saul has sent JDH a printed list of Joseph Banks' correspondence purchased from Lord Brabourne, also a volume of records of New South Wales from 1783-1789 [HISTORY OF NEW SOUTH WALES FROM THE RECORDS by G.B. Barton] including information on Bank's efforts for the colonising of Australia. JDH also wants a copy of a memoir of Joseph Banks by George Sutter & will ask Jackson if they have it at the British Museum. JDH offers WTTD a portrait of Ferdinand von Mueller, taken for the AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY, for the RBG Kew museum. JDH thinks there should be a printed catalogue of the botanists' portraits at Kew as it must be the only such collection in the world. JDH is sending Harriet Thiselton-Dyer a copy of his Royal Society notice of Brian Houghton Hodgson, a copy will also go to the library.

JDH informs Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] of an interesting French manuscript he has read, which includes an account of the vegetation in Mauritius, Bourbon & Rodriquez. JDH would like to get the Rodriguez account translated & published. JDH notes that [Dom Alexandre Guy] Pingré observed the transit of Venus at Rodriguez in 1671. JDH has asked Captain Oliver to see the views of Reunion & St Helen he has referred to. JDH thanks WTTD for sending a phot of himself, JDH explains the reasons he does not like full face photographs. JDH is seeing Sir Saul Samuel & will try to get some books from him on Joseph Banks: The 'Brabourne Papers' [Possibly Edward Hugessen Knatchbull-Hugessen, 1st Baron Brabourne] & a book by [George] Suttor. JDH mentions that WTTD is in deadlock with Reeve & Co [the publisher].

JDH informs Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer that having consulted Mr Rising of Yarmouth & Mr F. Symonds of Hereford he will add William 'Willy' Henslow Hooker & Charles 'Charlie' Paget Hooker as trustees [of his will?]. JDH has visited Captain Oliver at Findon [Manor] & seen his collection of sketches made in Japan, China, The Cape, Mauritius, Bourbon, St Helena etc, as well as his library, which is rich in books on Madagascar & the Mascarenes [Mauritius, Rodrigues, . JDH mentions the premature death of Bent, whose Mashonaland book [THE RUINED CITIES OF MASHONALAND] JDH recently bought. JDH visited Arundall [Arundel] castle, he decries the amount of money the Duke spends on expanding it further, noting the recent addition of a chapel despite the existence of a parish church & magnificent chapel in the village.

Letter in which JDH expresses his feelings at having received an elevation of his knighthood from Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India to Knight Grand Commander of that order, based on his completion of THE FLORA OF BRITISH INDIA. JDH is pleased that many other scientific men were also on the honours list, particularly Richard Strachey who was exploring the Himalayas at the same time as JDH 50 years previously. JDH thanks William Turner Thiselton-Dyer for sharing the thoughts of Sir Stewart Bailey, who was on the honours council that awarded JDH's promotion, he himself has written to thank Lord George Hamilton, his only acquaintance on the council. JDH is disappointed that Thiselton-Dyer has not been knighted this time but is confident he will be so in JDH's lifetime. JDH mentions that he has spent a wonderful day at Windsor, Eton & Slough & will tell Thiselton-Dyer about it when they attend a Naval Review.